Stopper and extractor therefor.



A. L. N EWSOM. STOPPBR AND EXTRAGTOR THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2a, 1913.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

Sum/whoa ALBERT L.NEwsom tlhll lED STATES FATENI @FFltCE.

ALBERT I. NEWSOM, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB T0 OSCAR G. HOC'KETT, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

STOPPER AND EXTRAC'IOR THEREFOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT L. Nnwsoar, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stoppers and Extractors Therefor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bottle stoppers and extractors therefor, and more particularly to that type of extractor which is arranged as a permanent adjunct to or part of the stopper, whereby there will always be at hand, means for the ready withdrawal of the stop per from the mouth of the bottle.

The invention has for its primary object a simple and very eiiicient device of this character which may be easily manufactured and sold at a price which will not add appreciably to the cost of the container or contents of the bottle, which will prove an attractive accessory or attachment and which will be ornamental in character and in no wise tend to injure or detract from the quality of the liquor or other contents of the bottle with which my improved stopper and its extractor are used.

A still further object of the invention is an improved construction of device of this type which may be used with particularly good results in connection with stoppers of the smaller sizes. That is to say, the invention aims to so construct and arrange the exposed portions of the extractor, which lie on the upper surface of the cork or other stopper, that a maximum length of the wire or the like, out of which the extractor is formed, may be secured, when the finger-hold or loop, which in normal condition lies flat upon the top of the stopper, is bent upwardly and outwardly into loop form, whereby a persons finger may be easily inserted through this loop to withdraw the stopper, where it would not be possible to do so if the loop portion was not of large proportions relatively to the diameter of the stopper at the upper end thereof. And the invention further aims to generally improve devices of this class so as to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 23, 1913.

Patented Apr. id, 19ft.

Serial No. 780,841.

constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form or embodiment of my invention, the loop portion of the extremity being shown flat upon the top of thestopper in full lines and raised therefrom in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4- is a longitudinal sectional view of this embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and of another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but of the second named embodiment, showing that so far as the side and top plan aspects of the two embodiments are concerned, they are alike in appearance. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of this second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are designated in all of the views of the accompany ing drawing and referred to in the following description, by like reference characters.

Referring first to that embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 1 designates a stopper which is indicated as being of cork, although it will be understood that the in vention is not limited in this regard, and 2 designates the extractor, as a whole. This is preferably formed of a single length of galvanized wire of suitable or predetermined tensile strength and pliability, although it will be understood that it is within the purview of my invention to use other substances or materials and I have proposed to embed a portion of the wire in the body portion of the stopper and to dispose the remaining portion flat upon the upper surface thereof, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. In that form of the invention which I am now describing, the two ends of the wire are passed into and through the stopper longitudinally (see Fig. i), and the extremities, when they emerge from the relatively lower end of the stopper are bent back and are again caused to penetrate the cork or the like whereby two retaining hooks 3 will be provided,

which will effectually prevent the wire from becoming detached from the stopper when an upward pull is exerted thereon to withdraw it from the mouth of the bottle. The intermediate portion of the wire is curved, as indicated at 4, with converging and re verse bends 5, where the exposed portion emerges from the top surface of the stopper, whereby a relatively long portion of the wire is disposed upon the upper surface of the stopper so that when it is raised from its initial position, fiat upon the stopper, these reverse bends may be spread apart and a loop or finger hold of maximum size, proportionate to the diameter of the stopper, will be produced. It is to be understood that the shank or stem portions 6, which extend longitudinally through and which are embedded in the stopper, may be secured therein in any desired way and are spaced from each other any desired distance apart.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to S inclusive, 1 designates the stopper, 2 the extractor, as a whole, 4 the loop portion thereof with its reverse bends 5 and 6 the shank portions which extend longitudinally through the stopper. This form of the invention differs from that first described only in the manner of securing the extremities of the wire in firmly embedded position in the stopper, the extremities being twisted upon each other, as indicated at 3*, instead of being bent back, as in the embodiment first described.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved combined stopper and extractor therefor, will be apparent.

In the practical use of the device, when it is desired to remove one of my improved stoppers from the mouth of a bottle in which it has been inserted, it is only necessary to insert ones finger nail or thumb nail, underneath the loop portion of the extractor, the stopper being preferably provided, at a point opposite the reverse bend, with a nick, (designated as 7 in Figs. 1 and 2 and 7 in Figs. 5 and 6), to facilitate this operation and to then bend the loop portion upwardly and spread the reverse bends wide apart, so as to produce a finger-hold of maximum size, proportionate to the length of the wire which forms the loop portion of the extractor.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple construction and eflicient de vice of this character which will be very convenient in that an extractor will always be at hand and there will be no tendency to injure the cork as often happens by the unskilful use of a cork screw, and besides, as the extractor will be securely connected to or embedded in the stopper, the liability of the extractor pulling out, as often happens,

with the ordinary cork screw, will be preeluded.

lVhile the accompanying drawing illustrates what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto, but that various changes may be made in the constructions, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a stopper and extractor therefor, the extractor consisting of a single length of pliable material, the end portions whereof are embedded in the stopper and provided with means for retaining the extractor in place and the intermediate portion whereof is extended around the major portion of the top surface of the stopper in the form of a loop with converging reverse bends where it joins the end portions, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a stopper and extractor therefor, the extractor consisting of a single length of pliable wire, the end portions of which are extended through the stopper longitudinally and are embedded therein and provided at their extremities with means for retaining them in place, and the intermediate portion of the stopper being extended around the major portion of the top surface of the stopper to form a loop with converging reverse bends where it joins the end portions that extend longitudinally into the stopper, the stopper being provided in its top with an edge nick underneath the loop, at a point opposite the reverse bends.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT L. NEl/VSOM.

Witnesses O. O. Hooxn'rr, RUBY RANsoNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

